Virginia Laws & Details

Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.)

Formal Education Requirements:  Graduation from an ACAOM-accredited program of at least 1,000 hours including 700 didactic and 250 clinical hours in no less than 18 months.  Individuals who graduated after July 1, 1990 must document 90 semester credit hours of full-time study. 

Applicants who have graduated from an acupuncture program in candidacy with ACAOM shall be eligible for licensure provided the program is subsequently granted accreditation within 3 years of applicant's education.  Applicants who have graduated from non-ACAOM accredited schools must have completed a course of study equivalent to graduates of approved institutions.

Undergraduate Requirements:  None.

Other Eligibility Requirements:  Applicants must also complete a CCAOM clean needle technique course.  Applicants who are foreign educated must demonstrate a satisfactory score on either the TOEFL or the TSE.  Applicants applying to practice as an acupuncturist whose native language is not English and whose acupuncture education was also not in English shall be exempt from the requirement for TSE or TOEFL if the majority of his or her clients speak the language of the acupuncturist.

Written Exam:  The NCCAOM exam in acupuncture.

Practical Exam:  The NCCAOM PEPLS.

Reciprocity/Endorsement:  None.

Medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors and podiatrists may practice acupuncture in Virginia with a minimum of 200 hours of instruction in acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Podiatrists may use acupuncture only for treatment of pain originating in the human foot.

NOTE:  Look for a physician with formal training in the practice of acupuncture.  Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is an art and a science that takes years to master.  While any licensed physician can stick needles into you, for a positive experience and results, find an acupuncturist with experience treating a similar condition (with acupuncture) to what you have.

Viginia Board of Medicine
6603 West Broad St., 5th Fl.
Richmond, VA 23230-1712
(804) 662-9908
(804) 662-7281 (Fax)
(804) 662-7197 (TDD)

Practice Act:  Title 18 VAC 85-110-10 et seq.

Acupuncture Society of Virginia
P.O. Box 1671
Vienna, VA 22183
(703) 644-7925

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